Deuteronomy 14: Seven Rules for Consuming God’s Word

Consume the Word of God to keep your mind, heart, and soul focused on Him1

Introduction: The Three Purposes Behind the Dietary Laws. In the Old Testament, God prohibited the Jews from eating certain kinds of foods. These laws had three purposes. First, they taught the Jews to be set apart from the pagan nations. By limiting the Jews to a special diet, they ate together and stayed separated from those who sacrificed animals to pagan gods. Second, the laws taught the Jews to be obedient. If the Jews learned to master control over what they ate, they would be more likely to develop self-control on more difficult matters. Third, the laws were meant to protect the Jews from diseases that they could neither see nor understand. God’s list of unclean animals predated even the Flood (Gen. 7:1-5). The growth of microorganisms was not fully understood until Louis Pasteur’s discovery of the fermentation process in 1859. By telling the people to avoid handling dead animals, ocean muscles (which feed off raw sewage), or birds that feed off of dead carcasses, God was protecting the Jews from microorganisms that the Jews did not know existed. During the great plagues (circa 1347-1352 A.D.), the Jews fared better than anyone else in avoiding death. The laws regarding kosher slaughter are so sanitary that kosher butchers and slaughterhouses have been exempted from many USDA regulations. Many of the unclean animals also frequently contain diseases that can kill people or make them sick. Examples include “Trichinosis” for pork and a host of diseases related to shellfish poisoning. Yet, not every prohibited food was bad for a believer’s health. For example, rabbits are ceremonially unclean (Lev. 11:6). Yet, rabbit meat is not unhealthy. Thus, even where there was no known health benefit, the Jews were expected to follow these laws out of obedience. Separation and obedience were the primary purposes behind these laws.

Jesus’ Blood Also Cleansed the Unclean Animals. In Jesus’ day, He lamented that some people were “straining at gnats, but swallowing a camel.” (Matt. 23:34). They went to great efforts to avoid accidentally ingesting an unclean bug while swallowing an even bigger unclean animal (Dt. 14:19-20; Lev. 11:20-25, 28-31, 41-44). In doing so, they lost sight of the forest through the trees and ignored the weightier matters of the Law, like justice, compassion, and mercy (Matt. 23:23). God wanted the Jews to be separated from the unclean. But separation was not good if it caused the people to be uncaring toward others. Thus, the Jews had frustrated the purposes behind God’s Law. The Jews further expanded two chapters of dietary restrictions in the Torah into an entire body of Jewish law called the “Kashrut” for what foods and food ingredients can be eaten and how those foods must be prepared. Food that may be consumed according to Jewish law “halakha” is called “Kosher.” Kosher is the English word for the Hebrew word kashér, which means “fit.” Food that is not fit for consumption is called “treif.”

Jesus said that “nothing outside of a man [] by going into him can defile him.” (Mk. 7:14b-15a). Instead, it is “what comes out of a man is what defies him.” (Mk. 7:20). After Jesus’ death, God told Peter that He had made the animals clean (Acts 10:10-15). Paul later wrote that no one should judge you about what you eat or drink (Col. 2:16). Thus, “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17). Therefore, “whatever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience.” (1 Cor. 10:25-28; Rom. 14:14, 20). The only exception is if your food causes another to stumble (Rom. 14:15).

Jesus’ death washed clean all but three things: (1) “food polluted by idols;” or “strangled” in idolatrous rituals, (2) “blood”, and (3) “sexual immorality.” (Acts 15:20). Based upon these verses, many believers see little reason to study God’s dietary laws. Yet, the New Testament says that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;” (2 Tim. 3:16). If the dietary laws no longer serve any purpose, how are they “profitable for teaching?” How are they “profitable . . . for training up in righteousness?” Moreover, if these laws were moot, why would Jesus warn us against teaching that they are annulled? “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:19).

Three Reasons Why God’s Original Dietary Laws Remain Relevant to Christians. Today, there are at least three reasons why God’s dietary laws remain relevant to believers. First, Jesus came to fulfill and not destroy the Law (Matt. 5:17). Everything that the Jews sacrificed or gave up in the Old Testament foreshadowed something about Jesus (Heb. 8:4-5; Col. 2:16-17). Thus, by studying the details regarding the clean and unclean animals, you can learn things about how to further your walk with God. Second, Jesus only fulfilled the need for physical sacrifices (Isa. 53:7; Jo. 1:29; Heb. 10:12-14). You can still look to the sacrifices of the Old Testament to learn how to make “spiritual sacrifices” to honor God (2 Pet. 2:5). If you study the characteristics of the clean and unclean animals, you can learn about spiritual things in your life that you should either embrace or avoid. Third, because Jesus identified Himself as the Word that you consume when you read the Bible (Matt. 4:4; Jo. 1:1, 14), you can look to the dietary laws to learn more about how you can consume the Word of God and the kinds of human writings you should avoid.

Seven Hidden Meanings in the Dietary Laws. The dietary laws are found in both Leviticus Chapter 11 and Deuteronomy Chapter 14. They are repeated to confirm them as true (2 Cor. 13:1). Comparing the two texts together reveals seven hidden truths for consuming the Word of God and avoiding the unclean things of the World. First, the animals are a symbol of God’s provision. Give thanks when you eat because God has provided for all your earthly needs. Yet, to fulfill your spiritual needs, you must also consume the Word of God. Second, the kinds of land animals that were permitted (animals that chew the cud with split hooves) reveal that you must chew or meditate and pray on God’s Word to stay on the straight and narrow path. Third, the kinds of sea creatures that were permitted (fishes with fins and scales) reveal that you must constantly persevere in your walk with Him and you must swim with the schools of other believers to enjoy His full protection. Fourth, the kinds of birds that were permitted (birds that do not prey on others or scavengers of the dead) reveal that you must lead a life of peace where you love instead of preying upon others. Fifth, the limited kinds of permitted insects (winged insects that could hop) reveal that you are to search out with discipline the narrow path of the Spirit to hop with joy in your walk. Sixth the final commandments in Leviticus and the first four verses of Deuteronomy reveal that you must be pure and set apart from all that is unholy. Finally, the tithing requirements in Deuteronomy reveal that you must act upon the Word to give back to others with both compassion and charity.

1) Provision and Gratitude: God Provided the Animals to Provide For Us. Gen. 1:29-30; 9:3-4.

2.) Wisdom and Guidance: Chew Upon God’s Word to Discern the Correct Path Forward. Lev. 11:1-8, 26-28; Dt. 14:3-8.

Distinguish between what God calls clean and unclean2

3.) Perseverance and Protection: Constantly Move in Groups to Enjoy God’s Full Protection. Lev. 11:9-12; Dt. 14:9.

Continue to move through God’s Word together with His flock3

4.) Peace and Love: Be at Peace with Others and Show Love. Lev. 11:13-20; Dt. 14:11-18, 20.

5) Discipline and Joy: Carefully Search Out What is Good and Be Filled With Joy. Lev. 11:20-23 (insects); 11:29-31 (reptiles), 41-44 (amphibians and insects); Dt. 14:19.

Kosher locust4

6) Purity: Be Set Apart From the Unclean World. Lev. 11:44-47, 24-25, 33-47; Dt. 14:1-2, 21.

Keep your mind and your body pure to serve God5

7.) Compassion and Charity: Give Back a Portion of God’s Blessings. Dt. 14:22-29.

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